Mandatory Evacuations Lifted For Fire West Of Golden

GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4) – A brush fire that started west of Golden Monday afternoon grew and prompted mandatory evacuations in the area, but they were later lifted.

The Glencoe Valley Fire was first reported to be about 1 acre in size and burning in the area of the Swartzwalter Mine near 8300 Glencoe Valley Road and moving towards Coal Creek Canyon. The fire grew to about 4 to 6 acres, but fire officials said it’s holding and they will monitor it overnight.

(credit: CBS)

A Level 2 evacuation notice was sent out to 252 phone numbers in the Blue Mountain Estates just before 5 p.m. The amount of homes could be less because of multiple phones per household.

A Level 2 evacuation notice means residents are notified there is a full evacuation and are informed to leave. Evacuations are mandatory and entry to evacuated areas may be denied. Residents are encouraged to evacuate as soon as possible. They may have time to gather necessary items, but doing so is at their own risk.

All levels of evacuations were lifted after 8 p.m.

“Right now we’re in a place where we’re uncomfortable because it’s grown a bit,” Jacki Kelley with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department said. “Until we can really get our arms around this we need to be more safe than sorry because of the lay of the land; you can tell that it is in a canyon area where if it were to take off it would move pretty quickly.”

A helicopter has been making drops from Ralston Reservoir and five agencies are fighting fire.

The fire can be seen from Denver. A cause wasn’t immediately known. Mark Techmeyer with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department said they are optimistic they’ll get it out largely because it’s not torching or showing extreme fire behavior.